In Burundi, journalism has always been a high-risk profession. Those who raise microphones and don't raise questions obviously have nothing to fear, while those who allow themselves to be used have no trouble getting around. But for journalists who define their profession by real independence, the situation changed completely in 2015. In the wake of the failed coup d'état on 13 May, Burundi woke up in silence. Most of the private radio stations had been vandalised and burnt down. The independent press had always been accused of being close to the opposition and Burundian civil society. In May 2015, it was to pay dearly for another accusation: ‘complicity with the coup plotters’. The government struck hard and silenced the radio stations for good. What happened next is well known: several journalists, including media directors, had only one choice to save their lives: to flee. Others spent some time in prison, including several women. Jean Bigirimana disappeared without a trace, probably murdered.
Since then, the lack of confidence in the Burundian press has only deepened. The withholding of information (a journalist's raw material) and/or self-censorship on the part of the public authorities adds a considerable complication to the production of content. The Burundian government does not honour all its commitments to promote the Burundian media, and often acts as a brake on their development. As a result, in the long run, the media are weakened, with content that is of little interest and disappointing for the public.
The Iwacu press agency, mindful of its primary mission, has launched a fundamental online reflection on ‘rethinking the press in Burundi’ under the hashtag #repenserlapresse.